I think my pig has mites...

[mrs.torres2566]

*Sigh* I am SO ready to have healthy pigs! I got 4 piglets, Skittles suffered from a BAD URI and despite all my efforts died 10 days later. Then Rose got a abscess under her chin, it popped and I have been treating it with my vets advice and instructions. Today I was delighted to see it was about 90% cleared up. For the last few days I noticed all 3 of them scratching quite a bit, and today while cleaning Rose's abscess I noticed a medium sized red scaly patch that had no hair on it. I looked it up and it says mites. My vet isnt open til tomorrow, is there anything I can do to soothe her today?

 

[emmylou]

Hi, hope your piggies are all ok soon. Most pet shops sell an anti parasite spot on treatments for guinea pigs and rabbits by beaphar, its about £5. i'm unsyre as to whether or not you would get it in the states but i'm sure you're petshop would have something similar

 

[Wiebke]

Firstly, you will need to make really sure that it is mites you need treating - fungal can sometimes look similar, but needs different treatment. Both can hit when the immune system is lowered after stress or illness.

To treat mites properly, you need a product that contains ivermectin; please be careful about shop treatments, their ivermectin content can be too low and you can rather do more damage than do good. I am not exactly sure which is the correct product for the US; you have different ones from us in Britain.

You will also need to give at least three rounds, spaced 10-14 days apart, which is the optimum period to catch emerging eggs.

Please see a vet if you are not absolutely sure that you know what you are treating!

Here is more information:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38562
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38562
http://www.gorgeousguineas.com/photogallery.html